2010 Beauty in the Natural World

As in most years, 2010 had a great many wonderful things to offer in `the wild`. From birds and insects, to colours and shapes. Here are a few of them as I captured them digitally. We are surrounded by amazing things and it is so easy to pass them by. That is why the camera is a great tool for capturing these things and turning them into memories.

Long Tailed Tit in the garden

Jackdaw in Pembrokeshire..

Swan on the Brett, mirrored in the river.

Green Woodpecker feeding its young.

Drinker Moth caterpillar

Blister Beetle

Thrift growing in abundance on the cliff path near Little Haven.

Ransoms or Wild Garlic

Lords-and-Ladies or Cuckoo Pint.

Dandelion head

Dark Mullein

Orchid

Thistle 

Peacock Butterfly

Ruddy Darter

Common Blue

Swallowtail - Britain's largest butterfly

Small Skipper

Burnett

Four Spotted Chaser

Followed by shades of autumn and winter

A great year observing all the beauty around us. These are just a sample of things seen but are great to look back on in the deep winter months.

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Winter comes with a vengeance!

Winter struck at the beginning of December with a very sharp freeze, then some snow. After that a respite until 19 December when we had a really good snowfall. Having not had a good snowfall for some time, I took to the lanes (with boots) to get some photos - it was spectacular.

Which way to go first - if you can read it!

Yes, the frost was severe! From our guttering.

Church railings

Everything had a layer of snow on it.

No one has been this way today.

Even the most familiar places take on a new perspective in the snow and a few images near home illustrate the fact, for me at least! Next day the cloud had cleared and the images had the benefit of a blue sky.

Normally a large grassy play area for the kids. They were there later playing snowballs.

From the far side of the MIll Pond and looking toward the footbridge.

Similar to the above but including the mill House. Just catching the morning sun.

Looking in the other direction, from the footbridge.

And the Mill wheel itself.

Two images from lanes near the church. 

St Andrew's Church, Layham

And last, but not least, the view from our bungalow.

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It must be Autumn in 2010

Autumn is a beautiful time of year despite the imminent threat of Winter round the corner. Some years we have masses of colour, but in others, the leaves are off the trees before we can appreciate them. Here are a few images taken in 2010, and mostly in close proximity to where we live, starting with some leaves.

Leaves still on the trees, and below are some that are on the ground.

Steps

This is the time of year that we see the most fungi, although they can be spotted at varying times in the year.

The reasonably common Fly Agaric (Aminita muscaria)

Another common one, the Shaggy Parasol (Macrolepiota procera)

Perhaps we don't see these quite as much, the Crested Coral (Clavulina coralloides)

The Brett with reflections of the autumnal colours.

Mist - beautiful, but a hazard if you are on the road!

More reflections on the Brett

Drips of moisture on the Rose hips

The local church of St Andrews with autumn colours.

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